Rare Early Full Stag Eickhorn RAD EM Dagger

German WWII > Edged Weapons > RAD Daggers > RAD EM Daggers

For those of you who know these pieces well you will immediately recognize the full stag grip as being the very first variation of these that were made. The horn going round the "beak" area proved far too difficult to put into full production. After a few months this was abandon in favor of the more common hewer with the steel beak. Eickhorn was the only maker who made the full stag variation. This blade has a dark crisp acid etched "Arbeit adelt" motto and "RADJ Ges. Gesch. Carl Eickhorn Solingen: maker mark, which dates this example at 1934! It continues to hold a sharp tip and solid fit! The blade rates Exc. with grey and age stain. The mid-period painted scabbard is in decent condition. The scabbard body remains completely dent free! The black burnished, steel based nickel plated fittings provide good detail, throughout the RAD logo's and decorative top patterns! There is surface oxidation I have NOT tried to clean. 2 screws are lost to time. The scabbard / crossguard fit is good. I would expect to see this dagger with an early scabbard with solid nickle fittings so IMHO the scabbard though original was not issued with this dagger and got replaced at some point. The brass based, nickel plated hilt is in excellent condition! The full stag horn grip is chip and crack free! The horn has beautifully aged with multi-tones that only time can create. The screws retaining the grip plates are all intact. A fine piece rarely offered that will be appreciated by the advanced collector!